Ladder accessories

Abstract

An accessory for releasably securing to a ladder. The accessory has at least one stabilizing arm for stabilizing and supporting the ladder when leaned against a building or structure. The stabilizing arm has a generally U-shaped configuration with a pair of generally parallel leg members that are spaced apart by a distance approximating the distance between the centers of adjacent ladder rungs. Each of the leg members ends in a ladder rung engaging member having a fore and an aft end, and is receivable within the hollow interior of a ladder rung. The ladder rung engaging members are oriented in a convergent configuration such that inserting them the hollow interiors of a pair of ladder rungs causes the fore and aft ends of the ladder rung engaging members to bind against opposite sides of the interior surfaces of the ladder rungs, and to releasably secure the stabilizing arm to the ladder.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
       1. An accessory for releasably securing to a ladder, the ladder being of the type having a series of generally parallel, hollow, evenly spaced, tubular, open ended rungs spanning and passing through a pair of longitudinal side members, the accessory comprising at least one stabilizing arm for stabilizing and supporting the ladder when leaned against a building or structure, said stabilizing arm having a generally U-shaped portion with a pair of generally parallel leg members extending from respective free ends of the generally U-shaped portion and in a plane at an angle to a plane of said generally U-shaped portion, said leg members spaced apart by a distance to approximate the distance between the centers of a pair of ladder rungs, each of said leg members ending in a ladder rung engaging member having a fore and an aft end and receivable within the hollow interior of a ladder rung, said ladder rung engaging members oriented in a convergent configuration with respect to each other such that insertion of said ladder rung engaging members into the hollow interiors of a pair of ladder rungs causes said fore and aft ends of said ladder rung engaging members to bind against opposite sides of the interior surfaces of the ladder rungs to releasably secure said stabilizing arm to the ladder. 
     
     
       2. The device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said accessory comprises a pair of said stabilizing arms, said stabilizing arms being releasably securable to opposite sides of the ladder to enhance the stability of the ladder when in use. 
     
     
       3. The device as claimed in claim  2  wherein said ladder rung engaging members converge at an angle of approximately 3 degrees. 
     
     
       4. The device as claimed in claim  3  wherein said stabilizing arms include protective coverings to prevent marking of a surface against which they bear. 
     
     
       5. The device as claimed in claim  4  wherein said stabilizing arms are comprised of rigid aluminum or steel pipe. 
     
     
       6. An accessory for releasably securing to a ladder, the ladder being of a type having a series of generally parallel, hollow, evenly spaced, tubular, open ended rungs spanning and passing through a pair of longitudinal side members, the accessory comprising at least one stabilizing arm for stabilizing and supporting the ladder when leaned against a building or structure, said stabilizing arm having a body portion and a pair of leg members extending from respective free ends of said body portion and in a plane at an angle to a plane of said body portion, said leg members at their opposite ends ending in ladder rung engaging members, said ladder rung engaging members having a fore and an aft end and receivable within the hollow interior of a ladder rung, said ladder rung engaging members oriented in a convergent configuration with respect to each other such that insertion of said ladder rung engaging members into the hollow interiors of a pair of ladder rung causes said fore and aft ends to bind against opposite sides of the interior surfaces of the ladder rungs and to thereby releasably secure said stabilizing arm to the ladder.